Organic Thin Film Transistor and Organic Thin Film Light Emitting Transistor

ABSTRACT

An organic thin film transistor including a substrate having thereon at least three terminals of a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, an insulator layer and an organic semiconductor layer, with a current between a source and a drain being controlled upon application of a voltage to the gate electrode, wherein the organic semiconductor layer includes a specified organic compound having an aromatic heterocyclic group in the center thereof; and an organic thin film light emitting transistor utilizing an organic thin film transistor, wherein the organic thin film transistor is one in which light emission is obtained utilizing a current flowing between the source and the drain, and the light emission is controlled upon application of a voltage to the gate electrode, and is made high with respect to the response speed and has a large ON/OFF ratio, are provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an organic thin film transistor havingan organic semiconductor layer and to an organic thin film lightemitting transistor and in particular, to an organic thin filmtransistor containing a compound with high mobility and capable ofundergoing a high-speed operation and an organic thin film lightemitting transistor using the same as a light emitting device.

BACKGROUND ART

A thin film transistor (TFT) is broadly used as a switching element fordisplay of a liquid crystal display, etc. A cross-sectional structure ofa representative TFT is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, TFT has agate electrode and an insulator electrode in this order on a substrateand has a source electrode and a drain electrode formed at a prescribedinterval on the insulator layer. Over the insulator layer exposingbetween the electrodes, a semiconductor layer is formed while includinga partial surface of each of the both electrodes. In TFT of such aconfiguration, the semiconductor layer forms a channel region and when acurrent flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode iscontrolled by a voltage to be applied to the gate electrode, undergoesan ON/OFF operation.

Hitherto, this TFT has been prepared using amorphous or polycrystallinesilicon. However, there was a problem that a CVD apparatus which is usedfor the preparation of TFT using such silicon is very expensive so thatincreasing in size of a display, etc. using TFT is accompanied by asignificant increase of manufacturing costs. Also, since a process forfabricating amorphous or polycrystalline silicon is carried out at avery high temperature, the kind of a material which can be used as asubstrate is limited, causing a problem that a lightweight resinsubstrate or the like cannot be used.

In order to solve such a problem, TFT using an organic material in placeof amorphous or polycrystalline silicon is proposed. With respect to thefabrication method to be employed for forming TFT using an organicmaterial, there are known a vacuum vapor deposition method, a coatingmethod and so on. According to such a fabrication method, it is possibleto realize increasing in size of a device while suppressing an increaseof the manufacturing costs, and the process temperature which isnecessary at the time of fabrication can be made relatively low. Forthat reason, in TFT using an organic material, there is an advantagethat limitations at the time of selection of a material to be used forthe substrate are few, and its realization is expected. TFT using anorganic material has been eagerly reported, and, for example, Non-PatentDocuments 1 to 20 can be enumerated.

Also, as the organic material to be used in an organic compound layer ofTFT, so far as a p-type is concerned, multimers such as conjugatedpolymers, thiophenes, etc. (Patent Documents 1 to 5, etc.);metallophthalocyanine compounds (Patent Document 6, etc.); condensedaromatic hydrocarbons such as pentacene, etc. (Patent Documents 7 and 8,etc.); and the like are used singly or in a state of a mixture withother compounds. Also, so far as a material of an n-type FET isconcerned, for example, Patent Document 9 discloses1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxyl dianhydride (NTCDA),11,11,12,12-tetracyanonaphth-2,6-quinodimethane (TCNNQD),1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxyl diimide (NTCDI), etc; and PatentDocument 10 discloses phthalocyanine fluoride.

Patent Document 12 discloses aryl ethylene-substituted aromaticcompounds and their use for an organic semiconductor. However, organicTFT devices are prepared through complicated steps including a step inwhich after applying a monomolecular film treatment to an insulatinglayer, a semiconductor layer is formed while heating.

Non-Patent Document 19 describes an electron mobility of a phenylenevinylene polymer (polyparaphenylene vinylene (PPV)), which electronmobility is, however, low as 10⁻⁴ cm²/Vs and does not reach a practicalperformance. That is, in PPV which is a high-molecular compound, thefield effect mobility becomes small due to a disturbance of the crystalstructure because of bending to be caused due to a long principal chainstructure or the presence of molecular weight distribution.

On the other hand, there is an organic electroluminescence (EL) deviceas a device similarly using electric conduction. However, the organic ELdevice generally forcedly feeds charges upon application of a strongelectric field of 10⁵ V/cm or more in the thickness direction of aultra-thin film of not more than 100 nm; whereas in the case of theorganic TFT, it is necessary to feed charges at a high speed over adistance of several μm or more in an electric field of not more than 10⁵V/cm, and accordingly, the organic material itself is required to becomemore conductive. However, the foregoing compounds in the conventionalorganic TFTs involved a problem in high-speed response as a transistorbecause the field effect mobility is low, and the response speed isslow. Also, the ON/OFF ratio was small. The terms “ON/OFF ratio” asreferred to herein refer to a value obtained by dividing a currentflowing between a source and a drain when a gate voltage is applied (ON)by a current flowing between the source and the drain when no gatevoltage is applied (OFF). The terms “ON current” as referred to hereinusually refer to a current value (saturated current) at the time whenthe current flowing between the source and the drain is saturated whenthe gate voltage is increased.

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DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems that the Invention is to Solve

In order to solve the foregoing problems, the present invention has beenmade. An object of the present invention is to provide an organic thinfilm transistor having a high response speed (driving speed) and a largeON/OFF ratio and an organic thin film light emitting transistor usingthe same.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to achieve the foregoing object, the present inventors madeextensive and intensive investigations. As a result, it has been foundthat by using an organic compound having a structure represented by thefollowing general formula (a) in an organic semiconductor layer of anorganic thin film transistor, the response speed (driving speed) can bemade fast, leading to accomplishment of the present invention.

That is, the present invention is to provide an organic thin filmtransistor comprising a substrate having thereon at least threeterminals of a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode,an insulator layer and an organic semiconductor layer, with a currentbetween a source and a drain being controlled upon application of avoltage to the gate electrode, wherein the organic semiconductor layerincludes an organic compound having a structure of the following generalformula (a).

[In the formula, A represents a group formed through connection ofplural aromatic hydrocarbon groups having from 6 to 60 carbon atomsand/or aromatic heterocyclic groups having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms toeach other via a single bond or a double bond; and R₁ to R₁₀ eachindependently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group,an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl grouphaving from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, a haloalkoxyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, analkylthio group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a haloalkylthio grouphaving from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkylamino group having from 1 to30 carbon atoms, a dialkylamino group having from 2 to 60 carbon atoms(the alkyl groups may be bonded to each other to form a nitrogenatom-containing cyclic structure), an alkylsulfonyl group having from 1to 30 carbon atoms, a haloalkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to 30 carbonatoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60 carbon atoms oran aromatic heterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms; each ofthese groups may have a substituent; and these groups may be connectedto each other to form an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60carbon atoms or an aromatic heterocyclic group having from 1 to 60carbon atoms. The plural aromatic hydrocarbon groups or aromaticheterocyclic groups in A may be the same or different.]

Furthermore, the present invention is to provide an organic thin filmlight emitting transistor in which in an organic thin film transistor,light emission is obtained utilizing a current flowing between a sourceand a drain, and the light emission is controlled upon application of avoltage to a gate electrode.

Advantages of the Invention

The organic thin film transistor of the present invention is made highwith respect to the response speed (driving speed), has a large ON/OFFratio and has a high performance as a transistor and therefore, can alsobe utilized as an organic thin film light emitting transistor which canachieve light emission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor in the Examples of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film transistor in the Examples of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing one embodiment of a device configuration of anorganic thin film light emitting transistor in the Examples of thepresent invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with an organic thin film transistorcomprising a substrate having thereon at least three terminals of a gateelectrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, an insulator layerand an organic semiconductor layer, with a current between a source anda drain being controlled upon application of a voltage to the gateelectrode, wherein the organic semiconductor layer includes an organiccompound having a structure of the following general formula (a).

It is preferable that the structure of the foregoing general formula (a)takes a structure represented by the following general formula (b) or(c).

In the general formula (a), A represents a group formed throughconnection of plural aromatic hydrocarbon groups having from 6 to 60carbon atoms and/or aromatic heterocyclic groups having from 1 to 60carbon atoms to each other via a single bond or a double bond; and theplural aromatic hydrocarbon groups or aromatic heterocyclic groups in Amay be the same or different.

In the general formula (b), A₁ and A₂ each independently represents adivalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60 carbon atoms ora divalent aromatic heterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms;and in the general formula (c), A₃ represents a trivalent aromaticheterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms.

In the foregoing general formula (a), (b) or (c), specific examples ofthe aromatic hydrocarbon group represented by A and A₁ to A₃ includebenzene, naphthalene, anthracene, tetracene, pentacene, phenanthrene,chrysene, triphenylene, corannulene, coronene, hexabenzotriphenylene,hexabenzocoronene, sumanene, etc. Also, specific examples of thearomatic heterocyclic group include pyridine, pyrazine, quinoline,naphthyridine, quinoxaline, phenazine, diazaanthracene, pyridoquinoline,pyrimidoquinazoline, pyrazinoquinoxaline, phenanthroline, carbazole,6,12-dihydro-6,12-diazaindenofluorene, dibenzothiophene, dithiaindacene,dithiaindenoindene, thienothiophene, dithienothiophene, dibenzofuran,benzodifuran, dibenzoselenophene, diselenaindacene,diselenaindenoindene, dibenzosilole, etc. A structure in which the twoolefin groups in the general formula (a) are substituted at a symmetricposition relative to A is preferable. It is more preferable that theolefin groups are substituted such that the structure constituted of Aand the olefin groups forms a plane; and it is further preferable thatthe olefin groups are substituted such that a π electron systemconstituted of A and the olefin groups is long. A structure in which thetwo olefin groups in the general formula (b) are substituted at asymmetric position relative to A₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁ is preferable. It is morepreferable that the olefin groups are substituted such that thestructure constituted of A₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁ and the olefin groups forms aplane; and it is further preferable that the olefin groups aresubstituted such that a π electron system constituted of A₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁and the olefin groups is long. Also, a structure in which the two olefingroups in the general formula (c) are substituted at a symmetricposition relative to A₃=A₃ is preferable. It is more preferable that theolefin groups are substituted such that the structure constituted ofA₃=A₃ and the olefin groups forms a plane; and it is further preferablethat the olefin groups are substituted such that a π electron systemconstituted of A₃=A₃ and the olefin groups is long. It is thought thatwhen such a structure is taken, the planarity of the molecule becomeshigh, and an interaction between the molecules becomes large, whereby ahigh performance is obtainable.

Also, in the general formula (a), (b) or (c), though the stereostructureof the olefin moiety may be mixed, it is preferable that one having astereostructure in which the conjugated principal chain istrans-configured is a major component.

In the general formula (a), (b) or (c), R₁ to R₁₀ each independentlyrepresents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkylgroup having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having from 1to 30 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, ahaloalkoxyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkylthio grouphaving from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a haloalkylthio group having from 1 to30 carbon atoms, an alkylamino group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, adialkylamino group having from 2 to 60 carbon atoms (the alkyl groupsmay be bonded to each other to form a nitrogen atom-containing cyclicstructure), an alkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, ahaloalkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an aromatichydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60 carbon atoms or an aromaticheterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms; each of thesegroups may have a substituent; and these groups may be connected to eachother to form an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60 carbonatoms or an aromatic heterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbonatoms.

In the foregoing general formula (a), (b) or (c), it is preferable thatR₁ to R₁₀ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkylgroup having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or each independently representsa hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a haloalkyl grouphaving from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

In the general formula (a), (b) or (c), it is preferable that R₁, R₅, R₆and R₁₀ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorineatom.

According to this, when R₂ to R₄ and R₇ to R₉ are each a group selectedfrom the foregoing, and the carbon atom number is regulated to not morethan 30, there is nothing of an increase of a ratio of stereoregularitycontrol sites (R₂ to R₄ and R₇ to R₉) occupied in the general formula(a), (b) or (c); the density of a structure having π electronscontributing to the current control is large; the regularity of a filmcan be controlled; and high field effect mobility and ON/OFF ratio canbe obtained.

Furthermore, in the foregoing general formula (a), (b) or (c), it ismore preferable that R₂ to R₄ and R₇ to R₉ are each a hydrogen atom, ahalogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbonatoms or a haloalkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Also, the organic compound having a specified structure to be used inthe organic thin film transistor of the present invention is basicallybipolar exhibiting p-type (hole conduction) and n-type (electronconduction) and can be driven as a p-type device or an n-type devicethrough a combination with source and drain electrodes as describedlater. However, in the foregoing general formula (a), (b) or (c), byproperly selecting the groups substituting on R₁ to R₁₀, A and A₁ to A₃depending on the necessity, the performances as the p-type and then-type can be more strengthened. That is, by employing an electronaccepting group for the groups substituting on R₁ to R₁₀, A and A₁ toA₃, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level is reduced,thereby enabling it to work as an n-type semiconductor. Preferredexamples of the electron accepting group include a hydrogen atom, ahalogen atom, a cyano group, a haloalkyl group having from 1 to 30carbon atoms, a haloalkoxyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, ahaloalkylthio group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and ahaloalkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. Also, byemploying an electron donating group for the groups substituting on R₁to R₁₀, A and A₁ to A₃, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)level is increased, thereby enabling it to work as a p-typesemiconductor. Preferred examples of the electron donating group includea hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, analkoxyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkylthio grouphaving from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkylamino group having from 1 to30 carbon atoms and a dialkylamino group having from 2 to 60 carbonatoms (the alkyl groups may be bonded to each other to form a nitrogenatom-containing cyclic structure).

Specific examples of each of the groups represented by R₁ to R₁₀ in theforegoing general formula (a), (b) or (c) are hereunder described.

Examples of the halogen atom include fluorine, chlorine, bromine andiodine atoms.

Examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, apropyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, an s-butyl group, anisobutyl group, a t-butyl group, an n-pentyl group, an n-hexyl group, ann-heptyl group, an n-octyl group, etc.

Examples of the haloalkyl group include a chloromethyl group, a1-chloroethyl group, a 2-chloroethyl group, a 2-chloroisobutyl group, a1,2-dichloroethyl group, a 1,3-dichloroisopropyl group, a2,3-dichloro-t-butyl group, a 1,2,3-trichloropropyl group, a bromomethylgroup, a 1-bromoethyl group, a 2-bromoethyl group, a 2-bromoisobutylgroup, a 1,2-dibromoethyl group, a 1,3-dibromoisopropyl group, a2,3-dibromo-t-butyl group, a 1,2,3-tribromopropyl group, an iodomethylgroup, a 1-iodoethyl group, a 2-iodoethyl group, a 2-iodoisobutyl group,a 1,2-diiodoethyl group, a 1,3-diiodoisopropyl group, a2,3-diiodo-t-butyl group, a 1,2,3-triiodopropyl group, a fluoromethylgroup, a 1-fluoromethyl group, a 2-fluoromethyl group, a2-fluoroisobutyl group, a 1,2-difluoroethyl group, a difluoromethylgroup, a trifluoromethyl group, a pentafluoroethyl group, aperfluoroisopropyl group, a perfluorobutyl group, a perfluorocyclohexylgroup, etc.

The alkoxyl group is a group represented by —OX¹, and examples of X¹ arethe same as those described for the foregoing alkyl group; and thehaloalkoxyl group is a group represented by —OX², and examples of X² arethe same as those described for the foregoing haloalkyl group.

The alkylthio group is a group represented by —SX¹, and examples of X¹are the same as those described for the foregoing alkyl group; and thehaloalkylthio group is a group represented by —SX², and examples of X²are the same as those described for the foregoing haloalkyl group.

The alkylamino group is a group represented by —NHX¹; the dialkylaminogroup is a group represented by —NX¹X³; and examples of each of X¹ andX³ are the same as those described for the foregoing alkyl group. Thealkyl groups of the dialkylamino group may be bonded to each other toform a nitrogen atom-containing cyclic structure; and examples of thecyclic structure include pyrrolidine, piperidine, etc.

The alkylsulfonyl group is a group represented by —SO₂X¹, and examplesof X¹ are the same as those described for the foregoing alkyl group; andthe haloalkylsulfonyl group is a group represented by —SO₂X², andexamples of X² are the same as those described for the foregoinghaloalkyl group.

Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group include a phenyl group, anaphthyl group, an anthryl group, a phenanthryl group, a fluorenylgroup, aperylenyl group, a pentacenyl group, etc.

Examples of the aromatic heterocyclic group include a furanyl group, athiophenyl group, a pyrrolyl group, a pyrazolyl group, an imidazolylgroup, a triazolyl group, a tetrazolyl group, an oxazolyl group, anisoxazolyl group, a thiazolyl group, a thiadiazolyl group, a pyridinylgroup, a pyrimidinyl group, a benzofuranyl group, a benzothiophenylgroup, an indolyl group, a quinolinyl group, a carbazolyl group, adibenzofuranyl group, a dibenzothiophenyl group, etc.

Examples of a substituent which may be further substituted on each ofthe groups represented in the foregoing general formula (a), (b) or (c)include an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic heterocyclic group,an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aralkyl group, an aryloxy group, anarylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an amino group, a halogen atom,a cyano group, a nitro group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, etc.

In the general formula (b), n represents an integer of from 0 to 2; andA₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁ takes a symmetric structure.

In the general formula (b), it is preferable that n is an integer offrom 1 to 2, and the cyclic structure of the moiety connected by asingle bond in A₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁ is a combination of a 5-membered ring anda 5-membered ring, or a 5-membered ring and a 6-membered ring; it isalso preferable that n is an integer of from 1 to 2, and A₁ and A₂ are adifferent group from each other; and it is also preferable that n is 0,the cyclic structure of the moiety connected by a single bond in A₁-A₁is a 5-membered ring, and A₁ is an aromatic heterocyclic group formedthrough fusion of two or more rings.

Also, in the general formula (b), it is preferable that at least one ofA₁ and A₂ contains a benzene ring; and it is also preferable that atleast one of A₁ and A₂ is a nitrogen atom-containing aromaticheterocyclic group.

In the general formula (c), it is preferable that A₃=A₃ takes asymmetric structure, and the cyclic structure in the moiety connected bya double bond in A₃=A₃ is a 5-membered ring.

Specific examples of the organic compound having a specified structureto be used in the organic semiconductor layer of the organic thin filmtransistor of the present invention will be given below, but it shouldnot be construed that the present invention is limited thereto.

The compound which is used for the organic semiconductor layer of theorganic thin film transistor of the present invention can be synthesizedby various processes. It can be synthesized by processes described indocuments, for example, Organic Reactions, Volume 14.3 (John Wiley &Sons, Inc.), Organic Reactions, Volume 25.2 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.),Organic Reactions, Volume 27.2 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) and OrganicReactions, Volume 50.1 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Also, astereostructure in the olefin moiety can be arranged to a unit positionisomer utilizing a thermal reaction, a photoreaction, an additionreaction and so on as the need arises.

In electronic devices such as transistors, a device with high fieldeffect mobility and ON/OFF ratio can be obtained by using a high-puritymaterial. Accordingly, it is desirable to apply purification by ameasure such as column chromatography, recrystallization, distillation,sublimation, etc. as the need arises. Preferably, it is possible toenhance the purity by repeating such a purification method or combiningthe plural of these methods. Furthermore, it is desirable to repeat thesublimation purification as a final step of the purification at leasttwo times or more. By using such a measure, it is preferred to use amaterial having a purify, as measured by HPLC, of 90% or more. There isa possibility that by using a material having a purity of morepreferably 95% or more, and especially preferably 99% or more, the fieldeffect mobility and the ON/OFF ratio of the organic thin film transistorcan be increased, thereby revealing an inherent performance of thematerial.

The device configuration of the organic thin film transistor of thepresent invention is hereunder described.

The device configuration of the organic thin film transistor of thepresent invention is not limited so far as it is concerned with a thinfilm transistor comprising a substrate having thereon at least threeterminals of a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode,an insulator layer and an organic semiconductor layer, with a currentbetween a source and a drain being controlled upon application of avoltage to the gate electrode. Those having a known device configurationmay be employed.

Of these, representative device configurations of the organic thin filmtransistor are shown as devices A to D in FIGS. 1 to 4. As describedabove, there are known some configurations regarding the locations ofelectrodes, the lamination order of layers and so on. The organic thinfilm transistor of the present invention has a field effect transistor(FET) structure. The organic thin film transistor has an organicsemiconductor layer (organic compound layer), a source electrode and adrain electrode formed opposing each other at a prescribed interval anda gate electrode formed at a prescribed distance from each of the sourceelectrode and the drain electrode, and a current flowing between thesource and drain electrodes is controlled upon application of a voltageto the gate electrode. Here, the interval between the source electrodeand the drain electrode is determined by the use purpose of the organicthin film transistor of the present invention and is usually from 0.1 μmto 1 mm, preferably from 1 μm to 100 μm, and more preferably from 5 μmto 100 μm.

Among the devices A to D, the device B of FIG. 2 is described as anembodiment in more detail. The organic thin film transistor of thedevice B has a gate electrode and an insulator layer in this order on asubstrate and has a pair of a source electrode and a drain electrodeformed at a prescribed interval on the insulator layer, and an organicsemiconductor layer is formed thereon. The organic semiconductor layerforms a channel region, and a current flowing between the sourceelectrode and the drain electrode is controlled by a voltage to beapplied to the gate electrode, thereby undergoing an ON/OFF operation.

With respect to the organic thin film transistor of the presentinvention, various configurations are proposed as the organic thin filmtransistor for the device configuration other than the foregoing devicesA to D. The device configuration is not limited to these deviceconfigurations so far as it has a mechanism revealing an effect forundergoing an ON/OFF operation or amplification with a current flowingbetween the source electrode and the drain electrode being controlled bya voltage to be applied to the gate electrode. Examples of the deviceconfiguration include a top and bottom contact type organic thin filmtransistor (see FIG. 5) proposed in the proceedings for the 49th SpringMeeting, The Japan Society of Applied Physics, 27a-M-3 (March 2002) byYoshida, et al. in National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology and a vertical type organic thin film transistor (see FIG. 6)proposed on page 1440 in IEEJ Transactions, 118-A (1998) by Kudo, et al.of Chiba University.

(Substrate)

The substrate in the organic thin film transistor of the presentinvention bears a role of supporting the structure of the organic thinfilm transistor. Besides glasses, inorganic compounds such as metaloxides or nitrides, etc., plastic films (for example, PET, PES or PC),metal substrates, composites or laminates thereof and so on can also beused as a material of the substrate. Also, in the case where thestructure of the organic fin film transistor can be sufficientlysupported by a constituent other than the substrate, there is apossibility that the substrate is not used. Also, a silicon (Si) waferis frequently used as a material of the substrate. In that case, Siitself can be used as the substrate also serving as the gate electrode.Also, it is possible to oxidize the surface of Si to form SiO₂, therebyutilizing it as an insulating layer. In that case, as shown in FIG. 8,there may be the case where a metal layer such as Au, etc. is fabricatedas an electrode for connecting a lead wire on the Si substrate of thegate electrode also serving as the substrate.

(Electrode)

Materials of the gate electrode, the source electrode and the drainelectrode in the organic thin film transistor of the present inventionare not particularly limited so far as they are a conductive material.Examples thereof include platinum, gold, silver, nickel, chromium,copper, iron, tin, antimony-lead, tantalum, indium, palladium,tellurium, rhenium, iridium, aluminum, ruthenium, germanium, molybdenum,tungsten, antimony tin oxide, indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-dopedzinc oxide, zinc, carbon, graphite, glassy carbon, a silver paste and acarbon paste, lithium, beryllium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium,scandium, titanium, manganese, zirconium, gallium, niobium, sodium, asodium-potassium alloy, magnesium, lithium, aluminum, a magnesium/coppermixture, a magnesium/silver mixture, a magnesium/aluminum mixture, amagnesium/indium mixture, an aluminum/aluminum oxide mixture, alithium/aluminum mixture, etc.

In the organic thin film transistor of the present invention, anelectrode formed using a fluidic electrode material containing theforegoing conductive material, such as a solution, a paste, an ink, adispersion, etc., in particular, a fluidic electrode material containinga conductive polymer or a metal fine particle containing platinum, gold,silver or copper, is preferable as the source electrode and the drainelectrode. Also, for the purpose of suppressing damage to the organicsemiconductor, it is preferable that the solvent or dispersion medium isa solvent or a dispersion medium each containing 60% by mass or more,and preferably 90% by mass or more of water. As a dispersion containinga metal fine particle, for example, a known conductive paste or the likemay be used. In general, it is preferable that the dispersion is adispersion containing a metal fine particle having a particle size offrom 0.5 nm to 50 nm, and preferably from 1 nm to 10 nm. Examples of amaterial of this metal fine particle which can be used include platinum,gold, silver, nickel, chromium, copper, iron, tin, antimony-lead,tantalum, indium, palladium, tellurium, rhenium, iridium, aluminum,ruthenium, germanium, molybdenum, tungsten, zinc, etc.

It is preferable that an electrode is formed using a dispersion preparedby dispersing such a metal fine particle in water or a dispersion mediumas an arbitrary organic solvent using a dispersion stabilizer composedmainly of an organic material. Examples of a method for manufacturing adispersion of such a metal fine particle include a physical formationmethod such as a gas evaporation method, a sputtering method, a metalvapor synthesis method, etc.; and a chemical formation method forreducing a metal ion in a liquid phase to form a metal fine particle,such as a colloid method, a coprecipitation method, etc. Dispersions ofa metal fine particle manufactured by a colloid method disclosed inJP-A-11-76800, JP-A-11-80647, JP-A-11-319538, JP-A-2000-239853, etc., ora gas evaporation method disclosed in JP-A-2001-254185, JP-A-2001-53028,JP-A-2001-35255, JP-A-2000-124157, JP-A-2000-123634, etc. arepreferable.

The electrode is molded using such a metal fine particle dispersion; thesolvent is dried; and thereafter, the molded article is heated in adesired shape at a temperature in the range of from 100° C. to 300° C.,and preferably from 150° C. to 200° C. as the need arises, therebythermally fusing the metal fine particle. There is thus formed anelectrode pattern having a desired shape.

Furthermore, it is preferable that a known conductive polymer whoseconductivity has been enhanced by means of doping or the like is used aseach of the materials of the gate electrode, the source electrode andthe drain electrode. For example, conductive polyanilines, conductivepolypyrroles, conductive polythiolphenes (for example, a complex ofpolyethylene dioxythiophene and polystyrene sulfonate, etc.), a complexof polyethylene dioxythiophene (PEDOT) and polystyrene sulfonate and soon are also suitably used. These materials are able to reduce thecontact resistance of each of the source electrode and the drainelectrode with the organic semiconductor layer.

Among the foregoing examples, those materials having small electricresistance on the contact surface with the organic semiconductor layerare preferable with respect to the material for forming each of thesource electrode and the drain electrode. On that occasion, when acurrent control device is prepared, the electric resistance iscorresponding to the electric effect mobility, and it is necessary thatthe resistance is as small as possible for the purpose of obtaining alarge mobility. In general, this is determined by a large and smallrelation between a work function of the electrode material and an energylevel of the organic semiconductor layer.

When a work function (W) of the electrode material is defined as “a”, anionized potential (Ip) of the organic semiconductor layer is defined as“b”, and an electron affinity (Af) of the organic semiconductor layer isdefined as “c”, it is preferable that they meet the following relationalexpression. Here, each of a, b and c is a positive value on the basis ofvacuum level.

In the case of a p-type organic thin film transistor, (b−a)<1.5 eV(expression (I)) is preferable; and (b−a)<1.0 eV is more preferable. Inthe relation with the organic semiconductor layer, when the foregoingrelation can be maintained, a device with high performance can beobtained. In particular, it is preferred to choose an electrode materialhaving a large work function as far as possible. The work function ispreferably 4.0 eV or more, and the work function is more preferably 4.2eV or more.

A value of the work function of the metal may be selected from the listof effective metals having a work function of 4.0 eV or more, which isdescribed in, for example, Kagaku Binran Kiso-hen II (Handbook ofChemistry, Fundamentals II), page 493 (Third Edition, edited by theChemical Society of Japan and published by Maruzen Co., Ltd., 1983). Ametal having a high work function is mainly Ag (4.26, 4.52, 4.64, 4.74eV), Al (4.06, 4.24, 4.41 eV), Au (5.1, 5.37, 5.47 eV), Be (4.98 eV), Bi(4.34 eV), Cd (4.08 eV), Co (5.0 eV), Cu (4.65 eV), Fe (4.5, 4.67, 4.81eV), Ga (4.3 eV), Hg (4.4 eV), Ir (5.42, 5.76 eV), Mn (4.1eV), Mo (4.53,4.55, 4.95 eV), Nb (4.02, 4.36, 4.87 eV), Ni (5.04, 5.22, 5.35 eV), Os(5.93 eV), Pb (4.25 eV), Pt (5.64eV), Pd (5.55eV), Re (4.72eV), Ru(4.71eV), Sb (4,55, 4.7 eV), Sn (4.42 eV), Ta (4.0, 4.15, 4.8 eV), Ti(4.33 eV), V (4.3 eV), W (4.47, 4.63, 5.25 eV) or Zr (4.05 eV). Ofthese, noble metals (for example, Ag, Au, Cu or Pt), Ni, Co, Os, Fe, Ga,Ir, Mn, Mo, Pd, Re, Ru, V and W are preferable. Besides the metals, ITO,conductive polymers such as polyanilines and PEDOT:PSS, and carbon arepreferable. Even when one or plural kinds of such a material having ahigh work function are included as the electrode material, so far as thework function meets the foregoing expression (I), there are noparticular limitations.

In the case of an n-type organic thin film transistor, (a−c)<1.5 eV(expression (II)) is preferable; and (a−c)<1.0 eV is more preferable. Inthe relation with the organic semiconductor layer, when the foregoingrelation can be maintained, a device with high performance can beobtained. In particular, it is preferred to choose an electrode materialhaving a small work function as far as possible. The work function ispreferably not more than 4.3 eV, and the work function is morepreferably not more than 3.7 eV.

A value of the work function of the metal having a low work function maybe selected from the list of effective metals having a work function of4.3 eV or less, which is described in, for example, Kagaku BinranKiso-hen II (Handbook of Chemistry, Fundamentals II), page 493 (ThirdEdition, edited by the Chemical Society of Japan and published byMaruzen Co., Ltd., 1983). Examples thereof include Ag (4.26 eV), Al(4.06, 4.28 eV), Ba (2.52 eV), Ca (2.9 eV), Ce (2.9 eV), Cs (1.95 eV),Er (2.97 eV), Eu (2.5 eV), Gd (3.1 eV), Hf (3.9 eV), In (4.09 eV), K(2.28 eV), La (3.5 eV), Li (2.93 eV), Mg (3.66 eV), Na (2.36 eV), Nd(3.2 eV), Rb (4.25 eV), Sc (3.5 eV), Sm (2.7 eV), Ta (4.0, 4.15 eV), Y(3.1 eV), Yb (2.6 eV), Zn (3.63 eV), etc. Of these, Ba, Ca, Cs, Er, Eu,Gd, Hf, K, La, Li, Mg, Na, Nd, Rb, Y, Yb and Zn are preferable. Evenwhen one or plural kinds of such a material having a low work functionare included as the electrode material, so far as the work functionmeets the foregoing expression (II), there are no particularlimitations. However, it is desirable that the metal having a low workfunction is covered by a metal which is stable in air, such as Ag andAu, as the need arises because when it comes into contact with moistureor oxygen in the air, it is easily deteriorated. The thickness necessaryfor covering is required to be 10 nm or more, and as the thicknessbecomes thick, the metal can be protected from oxygen or water. However,it is desirable that the thickness is not more than 1 μm for the reasonsof practical use, an increase of productivity, etc.

With respect to a method for forming the electrode, the electrode isformed by a method, for example, vapor deposition, electron beam vapordeposition, sputtering, an atmospheric pressure plasma method, ionplating, chemical vapor phase vapor deposition, electrodeposition,electroless plating, spin coating, printing, inkjetting, etc. Also, withrespect to a patterning method of a conductive thin film formed usingthe foregoing method, which is carried out as the need arises, there area method for forming an electrode using a known photo lithographicmethod or a liftoff method; and a method of forming a resist by means ofheat transfer, inkjetting, etc. onto a metal foil such as aluminum,copper, etc. and etching it. Also, a conductive polymer solution ordispersion, a metal fine particle-containing dispersion or the like maybe subjected to patterning directly by an inkjetting method or may beformed from a coated film by means of lithography, laser abrasion, etc.Furthermore, a method for patterning a conductive ink, a conductivepaste, etc. containing a conductive polymer or a metal fine particle bya printing method such as relief printing, intaglio printing,planographic printing, screen printing, etc. can be employed.

The thickness of the thus formed electrode is not particularly limitedso far as the electrode is electrically conductive. It is preferably inthe range of from 0.2 nm to 10 μm, and more preferably from 4 nm to 300nm. When thickness of the electrode falls within this preferred range,the resistance is high because of the fact that the thickness is thin,whereby any voltage drop is not caused. Also, since the thickness is notexcessively thick, it does not take a long period of time to form afilm, and in the case of laminating other layers such as a protectivelayer, an organic semiconductor layer, etc., a laminated film can besmoothly formed without causing a difference in level.

Also, in the organic thin film transistor of the present embodiment, forexample, for the purpose of enhancing injection efficiency, a bufferlayer may be provided between the organic semiconductor layer and eachof the source electrode and the drain electrode. With respect to thebuffer layer, a compound having an alkali metal or alkaline earth metalionic bond, which is used for a negative electrode of an organic ELdevice, such as LiF, Li₂O, CsF, NaCO₃, KCl, MgF₂, CaCO₃, etc., isdesirable for the n-type organic thin film transistor. Also, a compoundwhich is used as an electron injection layer or an electron transportlayer in an organic EL device, such as Alq may be inserted.

Cyano compounds such as FeCl₃, TCNQ, F₄-TCNQ, HAT, etc.; CFx; oxides ofa metal other than alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, such as GeO₂,SiO₂, MoO₃, V₂O₅, VO₂, V₂O₃, MnO, Mn₃O₄, ZrO₂, WO₃, TiO₂, In₂O₃, ZnO,NiO, HfO₂, Ta₂O₅, ReO₃, PbO₂, etc.; and inorganic compounds such as ZnS,ZnSe, etc. are desirable for the p-type organic thin film transistor. Inmany cases, the most of these oxides cause oxygen deficiency, and thisis suitable for hole injection. Furthermore, compounds which are usedfor a hole injection layer or a hole transport layer in an organic ELdevice, such as amine based compounds, for example, TPD, NPD, etc., CuPc(copper phthalocyanine), etc., may be used. Also, a combination of twoor more kinds of the foregoing compounds is desirable.

It is known that the buffer layer decreases a threshold voltage uponlowering an injection barrier of a carrier, thereby bringing an effectfor driving a transistor at a low voltage. We have found that the bufferlayer brings not only the low voltage effect but an effect for enhancingthe mobility with respect to the compound of the present invention. Thisis because a carrier trap exists at the interface between the organicsemiconductor and the insulator layer; and when carrier injection iscaused upon application of a gate voltage, the first injected carrier isused for burying the trap; however, when the buffer layer is inserted,the trap is buried at a low voltage, thereby enhancing the mobility. Itwould be better that the buffer layer exists thinly between theelectrode and the organic semiconductor layer, and its thickness is from0.1 nm to 30 nm, and preferably from 0.3 nm to 20 nm.

(Insulator Layer)

A material of the insulator layer in the organic thin film transistor ofthe present invention is not particularly limited so far as it iselectrically insulative and can be formed as a thin film. Materialshaving an electric resistivity of 10 Ωcm or more at room temperature,such as metal oxides (including an oxide of silicon), metal nitrides(including a nitride of silicon), polymers, organic low-molecular weightcompounds, etc., can be used; and inorganic oxide films having a highdielectric constant are especially preferable.

Examples of the inorganic oxide include silicon oxide, aluminum oxide,tantalum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, vanadium oxide, bariumstrontium titanate, zirconic acid barium titanate, zirconic acid leadtitanate, lanthanum lead titanate, strontium titanate, barium titanate,magnesium barium fluoride, lanthanum oxide, fluorine oxide, magnesiumoxide, bismuthoxide, bismuthtitanate, niobiumoxide, bismuth strontiumtitanate, bismuth strontium tantalate, tantalum pentoxide, tantalic acidbismuth niobate, trioxide yttrium and combinations thereof, with siliconoxide, aluminum oxide, tantalum oxide and titanium oxide beingpreferable.

Also, inorganic nitrides such as silicon nitrides (for example, Si₃N₄ orSi_(x)N_(y) (x, y>0)), aluminum nitride, etc. can be suitably used.

Furthermore, the insulator layer may be formed of a precursor includinga metal alkoxide. For example, the insulator layer is formed by coatinga solution of this precursor on, for example, a substrate and subjectingthis to a chemical solution treatment including a heat treatment.

The metal of the foregoing metal alkoxide is selected from transitionmetals, lanthanoids and main group elements. Specific examples thereofinclude barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), titanium (Ti), bismuth (Bi),tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn),lead (Pb), lanthanum (La), lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K),rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), francium (Fr), beryllium (Be), magnesium(Mg), calcium (Ca), niobium (Nb), thallium (Tl), mercury (Hg), copper(Cu), cobalt (Co), rhodium (Rh), scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), etc. Also,examples of the alkoxide in the foregoing metal alkoxide include thosederived from alcohols, for example, methanol, ethanol, propanol,isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, etc.; alkoxy alcohols, for example,methoxyethanol, ethoxyethanol, propoxyethanol, butoxyethanol,pentoxyethanol, heptoxyethanol, methoxypropanol, ethoxypropanol,propoxypropanol, butoxypropanol, pentoxypropanol, heptoxypropanol, etc.;and so on.

In the present invention, when the insulator layer is constituted of theforegoing material, a depletion layer is easily formed in the insulatorlayer, whereby the threshold voltage of the transistor operation can bereduced. Also, in particular, when the insulator layer is formed of asilicon nitride such as Si₃N₄, Si_(x)N_(y), SiON_(x) (x, y>0), etc.among the foregoing materials, a deletion layer more easily generates,whereby the threshold voltage of the transistor operation can be morereduced.

With respect to the insulator layer using an organic compound,polyimides, polyamides, polyesters, polyacrylates, photo radicalpolymerization based or photo cation polymerization based photocurableresins, copolymers containing an acrylonitrile component, polyvinylphenol, polyvinyl alcohol, novolak resins, cyanoethyl pullulan, etc. canalso be used.

Besides, polymer materials having a high dielectric constant, such aspullulan, etc., can be used in addition to waxes, polyethylene,polychloroprene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyoxymethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polymethyl methacrylate, polysulfone,polycarbonate, polyimide cyanoethyl pullulan, poly(vinyl phenol) (PVP),poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS),polyolefins, polyacrylamide, poly(acrylic acid), novolak resins, resolresins, polyimides, polyxylylene and epoxy resins.

With respect to the material of the insulator layer, organic compoundshaving water repellency are especially preferable. When the material haswater repellency, an interaction between the insulator layer and theorganic semiconductor layer is suppressed, and the crystallinity of theorganic semiconductor layer is enhanced utilizing the cohesiveness whichthe organic semiconductor originally possesses, whereby the deviceperformance can be enhanced. Examples thereof include polyparaxylylenederivatives described in Yasuda, et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 42(2003), pages 6614 to 6618; and those described in Janos Veres, et al.,Chem. Mater., Vol. 16 (2004), pages 4543 to 4555.

Also, when a top gate structure as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 is used, byusing such an organic compound as the material of the insulator layer,the fabrication can be carried out while minimizing the damage given tothe organic semiconductor layer, and therefore, such is an effectivemethod.

The foregoing insulator layer may be a mixed layer using the plural ofthe foregoing inorganic or organic compound materials or may be of alaminated structure thereof. In that case, the performance of the devicecan be controlled by mixing a material having a high dielectric constantand a material having water repellency or laminating the both as theneed arises.

Also, the insulator layer may be an anodic oxide film or may include theanodic oxide film as a constituent. It is preferable that the anodicoxide film is subjected to a sealing treatment. The anodic oxide film isformed by anodically oxidizing an anodic oxidizable metal by a knownmethod. Examples of the anodic oxidizable metal include aluminum andtantalum. The method of the anodic oxidation treatment is notparticularly limited, and known methods can be employed. By carrying outthe anodic oxidation treatment, an oxide film is formed. As anelectrolytic solution which is used for the anodic oxidation treatment,any material can be used so far as it is able to form a porous oxidefilm. In general, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, chromicacid, boric acid, sulfamic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, etc., or mixedacids composed of a combination of two or more kinds of those acids orsalts thereof are useful. The treatment condition of the anodicoxidation variously varies depending upon the electrolytic solution tobe used and cannot be unequivocally specified. However, in general, itis appropriate that the concentration of the electrolytic solution is inthe range of from 1 to 80% by mass; that the temperature of theelectrolytic solution is in the range of from 5 to 70° C.; that thecurrent density is in the range of from 0.5 to 60 A/cm²; that thevoltage is in the range of from 1 to 100 volts; and that theelectrolysis time is in the range of from 10 seconds to 5 minutes. Apreferred anodic oxidation treatment is a method for carrying out thetreatment with a direct current using, as the electrolytic solution, anaqueous solution of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or boric acid;however, an alternating current can also be applied. The concentrationof such an acid is preferably from 5 to 45% by mass; and it ispreferable that the electrolysis treatment is carried out at atemperature of the electrolytic solution of from 20 to 50° C. and acurrent density of from 0.5 to 20 A/cm² for from 20 to 250 seconds.

With respect to the thickness of the insulator layer, when the thicknessof the layer is thin, an effective voltage which is applied to theorganic semiconductor becomes large, and therefore, it is possible tolower a driving voltage and a threshold voltage of the device itself.However, on the contrary, a leak current between the source and the gatebecomes large. Therefore, it is necessary to select an appropriatethickness of the film. The thickness of the film is usually from 10 nmto 5 μm, preferably from 50 nm to 2 μm, and more preferably from 100 nmto 1 μm.

Also, an arbitrary orientation treatment may be applied between theinsulator layer and the organic semiconductor layer. A preferredembodiment thereof is a method in which a water repelling treatment orthe like is applied onto the surface of the insulator layer, therebyreducing an interaction between the insulator layer and the organicsemiconductor layer and enhancing the crystallinity of the organicsemiconductor layer. Specifically, there is exemplified a method inwhich a silane coupling agent, for example, materials of self-assembledoriented film such as octadecyltrichlorosilane, trichloromethylsilazane,alkane phosphoric acids, alkane sulfonic acids, alkane carboxylic acids,etc., is brought into contact with the surface of an insulating film ina liquid phase or vapor phase state, thereby forming a self-assembledmonolayer, which is then properly dried. Also, as used in theorientation of a liquid crystal, a method of disposing a filmconstituted of a polyimide or the like on the surface of an insulatingfilm and subjecting the resulting surface to a rubbing treatment is alsopreferable.

Examples of the method for forming the insulator layer include dryprocesses such as a vacuum vapor deposition method, a molecular beamepitaxial growth method, an ion cluster beam method, a low energy ionbeam method, an ion plating method, a CVD method, a sputtering method,an atmospheric pressure plasma method disclosed in JP-A-11-61406,JP-A-11-133205, JP-A-2000-121804, JP-A-2000-147209 and JP-A-2000-185362,etc.; and wet processes such as methods by coating, for example, a spraycoating method, a spin coating method, a blade coating method, a dipcoating method, a casting method, a roller coating method, a bar coatingmethod, a die coating method, etc., and methods by patterning, forexample, printing, inkjetting, etc. They can be applied depending uponthe material. As the wet process, a method of coating and drying asolution prepared by dispersing a fine particle of an inorganic oxide inan arbitrary organic solvent or water and optionally, a dispersing agentsuch as surfactants, etc.; and a so-called sol-gel method of coating anddrying a solution of an oxide precursor, for example, an alkoxide areuseful.

Though the thickness of the organic semiconductor layer in the organicthin film transistor of the present invention is not particularlylimited, it is usually from 0.5 nm to 1 μm, and preferably from 2 nm to250 nm.

Also, a method for forming the organic semiconductor layer is notparticularly limited, and a known method is employable. For example, theorganic semiconductor layer is formed from the foregoing materials ofthe organic semiconductor layer by a molecular beam deposition method(MBE method), a vacuum vapor deposition method, chemical vapordeposition, a printing or coating method of a solution having a materialdissolved in a solvent, such as a dipping method, a spin coating method,a casting method, a bar coating method, a roller coating method, etc.,baking, electro-polymerization, molecular beam vapor deposition,self-assembling from a solution, or a method of a combination of thosemethods.

When the crystallinity of the organic semiconductor layer is enhanced,the field effect mobility is enhanced. Therefore, in the case ofemploying fabrication (for example, vapor deposition, sputtering, etc.)from a vapor phase, it is desirable to keep the temperature of thesubstrate during the fabrication at a high temperature. The temperatureis preferably from 50 to 250° C., and more preferably from 70 to 150° C.Also, regardless of the fabrication method, it is preferable thatannealing is carried out after the fabrication because ahigh-performance device is obtained. With respect to the annealing, thetemperature is preferably from 50 to 200° C., and more preferably from70 to 200° C.; and the time is preferably from 10 minutes to 12 hours,and more preferably from 1 to 10 hours.

In the present invention, one kind of the materials selected among thoserepresented by the general formulae (a), (b) and/or (c) may be used forthe organic semiconductor layer. Also, a combination of the plurality ofthese materials or plural mixed thin films or laminates using a knownsemiconductor such as pentacene, a thiophene oligomer, etc. may be used.

A method for forming the organic thin film transistor of the presentinvention is not particularly limited but may be carried out inaccordance with a known method. It is preferable that the formation iscarried out in accordance with a desired device configuration through aseries of device preparation steps including charging a substrate,forming a gate electrode, forming an insulator layer, forming an organicsemiconductor layer, forming a source electrode and forming a drainelectrode without utterly coming into contact with the air because thehindrance of a device performance to be caused due to the moisture oroxygen or the like in the air upon contact with the air can beprevented. When it is unable to evade the contact with the air once, itis preferable that steps after the fabrication of the organicsemiconductor layer are a step of not contacting with the air at all;and that immediately before the fabrication of the organic semiconductorlayer, the surface on which the organic semiconductor layer is laminated(for example, in the case of the device B, the surface of the insulatinglayer on which are partially laminated the source electrode and thedrain electrode) is cleaned and activated by means of irradiation withultraviolet rays, irradiation with ultraviolet rays/ozone, oxygenplasma, argon plasma, etc., and the organic semiconductor layer is thenlaminated.

Furthermore, for example, taking into consideration influences ofoxygen, water, etc. contained in the air against the organicsemiconductor layer, a gas barrier layer may be formed entirely orpartially on the peripheral surface of the organic transistor device. Asa material for forming the gas barrier layer, those which are commonlyused in this field can be used, and examples thereof include polyvinylalcohol, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl chloride,polyvinylidene chloride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, etc. Furthermore,the inorganic materials having insulating properties, which areexemplified in the foregoing insulator layer, can be used.

The organic thin film transistor in the present invention can also beused as a light emitting device using charges injected from the sourceand drain electrodes. That is, the organic thin film transistor can beused as an organic thin film light emitting transistor also having afunction as a light emitting device (organic EL device). This is able tocontrol the emission intensity by controlling a current flowing betweenthe source and drain electrodes by the gate electrode. Since thetransistor for controlling the emission and the light emitting devicecan be consolidated, the costs can be reduced due to an enhancement ofthe degree of opening of a display or simplification of the preparationprocess, resulting in great advantages from the standpoint of practicaluse. When used as an organic light emitting transistor, the contentswhich have been described previously in detail are sufficient. However,in order to make the organic thin film transistor of the presentinvention operate as an organic light emitting transistor, it isnecessary to inject holes from one of a source and a drain and to injectelectrons from the other; and in order to enhance the emissionperformance, it is preferable that the following condition is met.

(Source and Drain)

With respect to the organic thin film light emitting transistor of thepresent invention, in order to enhance the injection properties ofholes, it is preferable that at least one of the electrodes is a holeinjection electrode. The hole injection electrode as referred to hereinis an electrode including a material having the foregoing work functionof 4.2 eV or more.

Also, in order to enhance the injection properties of electrons, it ispreferable that at least one of the electrodes is an electron injectionelectrode. The electron injection electrode as referred to herein is anelectrode including a material having the foregoing work function of notmore than 4.3 eV. An organic thin film light emitting transistorprovided with electrodes such that one of the electrodes has holeinjection properties, with the other having electron injectionproperties, is more preferable.

(Device Configuration)

With respect to the organic thin film light emitting transistor of thepresent invention, for the purpose of enhancing the hole injectionproperties, it is preferable that a hole injection layer is insertedbetween at least one of the electrodes and the organic semiconductorlayer. With respect to the hole injection layer, amine based materialswhich are used as a hole injection material or a hole transport materialin organic EL devices and so on are useful.

Also, for the purpose of enhancing the electron injection properties, itis preferable that an electron injection layer is inserted between atleast one of the electrodes and the organic semiconductor layer. Similarto the hole injection layer, electron injection materials which are usedin organic EL devices and so on are useful.

An organic thin film light emitting transistor in which a hole injectionlayer is provided beneath at least one of the electrodes, and anelectron injection layer is provided beneath the other electrode is morepreferable.

Also, in the organic thin film light emitting transistor of the presentembodiment, for example, for the purpose of enhancing injectionefficiency, a buffer layer may be provided between the semiconductorlayer and each of the source electrode and the drain electrode.

Examples

Next, the present invention is described in more detail with referenceto the following Examples.

Synthesis Example 1 Synthesis of Compound (A-4)

The foregoing Compound (A-4) was synthesized in the following manner. Asynthesis route is described below.

A flask was charged with 3.24 g (20 mmoles) of boronic acid, 4.76 g (10mmoles) of 5,5′-bis(4-bromophenyl)bisthiophene and 0.11 g (0.09 mmoles)of tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium(0) and then purged with argon.Furthermore, 1,2-dimethoxyethane (30 mL) and 30 mL (60 mmoles) of a 2Msodium carbonate aqueous solution are added. The reactor is placed in anargon atmosphere and provided for refluxing under heating at 90° C.After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture is filtered andthen washed with hexane and methanol. Furthermore, the resultingreaction mixture was recrystallized from toluene to obtain 4.40 g(yield: 80%) of Compound (A-4). The present compound was confirmed to bea desired compound by the measurement of FD-MS (field desorption massanalysis). The apparatus used for the measurement, measurement conditionand obtained results are shown below.

Apparatus:

HX110 (manufactured by JEOL Ltd.)

Condition:

Accelerating voltage: 8 kV

Scan range: m/z=50 to 1,500

Results:

FD-MS, calculated for C₃₈H₃OS₂=550, found, m/z=550 (M⁺, 100)

Example 1 Manufacture of Organic Thin Film Transistor

An organic thin film transistor was prepared according to the followingprocedures. First of all, a glass substrate was ultrasonically cleanedwith a neutral detergent, pure water, acetone and ethanol each for 30minutes, and gold (Au) was then fabricated in a thickness of 40 nmthereon by a sputtering method, thereby preparing a gate electrode.Subsequently, this substrate was set in a fabrication zone of a thermalCVD apparatus. On the other hand, 250 mg of a polyparaxylene derivative[polyparaxylene chloride (Parylene)] (a trade name: diX-C, manufacturedby Daisan Kasei Co., Ltd.) as a raw material of the insulator layer ischarged in a Petri dish and placed in an evaporation zone of the rawmaterial. The thermal CVD apparatus was evacuated by a vacuum pump; andafter the pressure reached 5 Pa, the evaporation zone and thepolymerization zone were heated up to 180° C. and 680° C., respectivelyand allowed to stand for 2 hours, thereby forming an insulator layerhaving a thickness of 1 μm on the gate electrode.

Next, the substrate was placed in a vacuum vapor deposition apparatus(EX-400, manufactured by ULVAC, Inc.), and the foregoing Compound (A-4)was fabricated in a thickness of 50 nm as an organic semiconductor layeron the insulator layer at a vapor deposition rate of 0.05 nm/s.Subsequently, gold was fabricated in a thickness of 50 nm through ametal mask, thereby forming a source electrode and a drain electrodewhich did not come into contact with each other at a space (channellength L) of 75 μm. At that time, the fabrication was carried out suchthat a width (channel width W) between the source electrode and thedrain electrode was 5 mm, thereby preparing an organic thin filmtransistor (see FIG. 7).

The obtained organic thin film transistor was evaluated at roomtemperature by using KEITHLEY's 4200-SCS in the following manner. A gatevoltage of −40 V was applied to the gate electrode of the organic thinfilm transistor, and a voltage was applied between the source and thedrain, thereby flowing a current. In that case, a hole is induced in achannel region (between the source and the drain) of the organicsemiconductor layer, whereby the organic thin film transistor works as ap-type transistor. An ON/OFF ratio of the current between the source anddrain electrodes in a current saturation region was 1×10⁶. Also, a fieldeffect mobility μ of the hole was calculated in accordance with thefollowing expression (A) and found to be 2×10⁻¹ cm²/Vs.

I _(D)=(W/2L)·Cμ·(V _(G) −V _(T))²   (A)

In the expression, I_(D) represents a current between the source and thedrain; W represents a channel width; L represents a channel length; Crepresents an electric capacitance per unit area of the gate insulatorlayer; V_(T) represents a gate threshold voltage; and V_(G) represents agate voltage.

Example 2 Manufacture of Organic Thin Film Transistor

An organic semiconductor layer was fabricated in the same manner as inExample 1, except for using Compound (A-14) in place of the Compound(A-4) as the material of the organic semiconductor layer. Subsequently,Ca was vacuum vapor deposited in a thickness of 20 nm as the source anddrain electrodes through the metal mask in place of Au at a vapordeposition rate of 0.05 nm/s. Thereafter, Ag was vapor deposited in athickness of 50 nm at a vapor deposition rate of 0.05 nm/s, therebycoating Ca. There was thus prepared an organic thin film transistor.With respect to the obtained organic thin film transistors, an ON/OFFratio of the current between the source and drain electrodes wasmeasured in the same manner as in Example 1, except for subjecting it ton-type driving at agate voltage V_(G) of +40 V, and a field effectmobility μ of the electron was calculated. The results are shown inTable 1.

Examples 3 to 8 Manufacture of Organic Thin Film Transistors

Organic thin film transistors were prepared in the same manner as inExample 1, except for using each of the compounds shown in Table 1 asthe material of the organic semiconductor layer in place of the Compound(A-4). The obtained organic thin film transistors were each subjected top-type driving at a gate voltage V_(G) of −40 V in the same manner as inExample 1. Also, an ON/OFF ratio of the current between the source anddrain electrodes was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and afield effect mobility μ of the hole was calculated. The results areshown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1 Manufacture of Organic Thin Film Transistor

Cleaning of a substrate, fabrication of a gate electrode and preparationof an insulator layer were carried out in the same manner as inExample 1. Subsequently, 3% by mass of polyparaphenylene vinylene (PPV)[molecular weight (Mn): 86,000, molecular weight distribution(Mw/Mn)=5.1] was dissolved in toluene, and the solution was fabricatedon the substrate which had been fabricated up to the foregoinginsulating layer by a spin coating method and dried at 120° C. in anitrogen atmosphere, thereby fabricating it as an organic semiconductorlayer. Subsequently, gold (Au) was fabricated in a thickness of 50 nmthrough a metal mask by a vacuum vapor deposition apparatus, therebyforming the source and drain electrodes which did not come into contactwith each other. There was thus prepared an organic thin filmtransistor.

The obtained organic thin film transistor was subjected to p-typedriving at a gate voltage V_(G) of −40 V in the same manner as inExample 1. An ON/OFF ratio of the current between the source and drainelectrodes was measured, and a field effect mobility μ of the hole wascalculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 2 Manufacture of Organic Thin Film Transistor

Fabrication up to the organic semiconductor layer was carried out inexactly the same manner as in Comparative Example 1 usingpolyparaphenylene vinylene (PPV) as the material of the organicsemiconductor layer. Subsequently, Ca was vacuum vapor deposited in athickness of 20 nm as the source and drain electrodes through a metalmask in place of Au at a vapor deposition rate of 0.05 nm/s. Thereafter,Ag was vapor deposited in a thickness of 50 nm at a vapor depositionrate of 0.05 nm/s, thereby coating Ca. There was thus prepared anorganic thin film transistor.

The obtained organic thin film transistor was subjected to n-typedriving at a gate voltage V_(G) of +40 V in the same manner as inExample 1. An ON/OFF ratio of the current between the source and drainelectrodes was measured, and a field effect mobility μ of the electronwas calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Kind of compound Field effect of organic Kind of mobility ON/OFFsemiconductor layer transistor (cm²/Vs) ratio Example 1 (A-4) p-Type 2 ×10⁻¹ 1 × 10⁶ Example 2 (A-14) n-Type 3 × 10⁻² 1 × 10⁵ Example 3 (A-3)p-Type 2 × 10⁻¹ 1 × 10⁶ Example 4 (A-22) p-Type 3 × 10⁻¹ 1 × 10⁶ Example5 (B-4) p-Type 2 × 10⁻¹ 5 × 10⁵ Example 6 (B-5) p-Type 3 × 10⁻¹ 1 × 10⁶Example 7 (B-7) p-Type 2 × 10⁻¹ 1 × 10⁶ Example 8 (D-2) p-Type 2 × 10⁻¹1 × 10⁶ Comparative PPV p-Type 1 × 10⁻⁵ 1 × 10³ Example 1 ComparativePPV n-Type 1 × 10⁻⁴ 1 × 10³ Example 2

Example 9 Manufacture of Organic Thin Film Light Emitting Transistor

An organic thin film light emitting transistor was prepared according tothe following procedures. First of all, the surface of an Si substrate(p-type also serving as a gate electrode, specific resistivity: 1 Ωcm)was oxidized by a thermal oxidation method to prepare a 300 nm-thickthermally oxidized film on the substrate, which was then used as aninsulator layer. Furthermore, after completely removing the SiO₂ filmfabricated on one surface of the substrate by means of dry etching,chromium was fabricated in a thickness of 20 nm thereon by a sputteringmethod; and gold (Au) was further fabricated in a thickness of 100 nmthereon by means of sputtering, thereby forming a lead-out electrode.This substrate was ultrasonically cleaned with a neutral detergent, purewater, acetone and ethanol each for 30 minutes.

Next, the foregoing substrate was placed in a vacuum vapor depositionapparatus (EX-900, manufactured by ULVAC, Inc.), and the foregoingCompound (A-4) was fabricated in a thickness of 100 nm as an organicsemiconductor light emitting layer on the insulator layer (SiO₂) at avapor deposition rate of 0.05 nm/s. Subsequently, a metal mask having achannel length of 75 μm and a channel width 5 mm was placed in the samemanner as described previously, and gold was fabricated in a thicknessof 50 nm through the mask in a state of inclining the substrate at 45°against an evaporation source. Subsequently, Mg was vapor deposited in athickness of 100 nm in a state of inclining the substrate at 45° in thereverse direction, thereby preparing an organic thin film light emittingtransistor in which a source electrode and a drain electrode which didnot come into contact with each other were each substantially providedwith a hole injection electrode (Au) and an electron injection electrode(Mg) (see FIG. 9).

When −100 V was applied between the source and drain electrodes, and−100 V was applied to the gate electrode, green emission was obtained.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above in detail, by using a compound having a specifiedstructure with high electron mobility as a material of an organicsemiconductor layer, the organic thin film transistor of the presentinvention has a fast response speed (driving speed), has a large ON/OFFratio and is high in performance as a transistor; and it is also able tobe utilized as an organic thin film light emitting transistor which canachieve light emission.

1. An organic thin film transistor comprising a substrate having thereonat least three terminals of a gate electrode, a source electrode and adrain electrode, an insulator layer and an organic semiconductor layer,with a current between a source and a drain being controlled uponapplication of a voltage to the gate electrode, wherein the organicsemiconductor layer includes an organic compound having a structure ofthe following general formula (a):

[wherein A represents a group formed through connection of pluralaromatic hydrocarbon groups having from 6 to 60 carbon atoms and/oraromatic heterocyclic groups having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms to eachother via a single bond or a double bond; R₁ to R₁₀ each independentlyrepresents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkylgroup having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having from 1to 30 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, ahaloalkoxyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkylthio grouphaving from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, a haloalkylthio group having from 1 to30 carbon atoms, an alkylamino group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, adialkylamino group having from 2 to 60 carbon atoms (the alkyl groupsmay be bonded to each other to form a nitrogen atom-containing cyclicstructure), an alkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, ahaloalkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an aromatichydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60 carbon atoms or an aromaticheterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms; each of thesegroups may have a substituent; these groups may be connected to eachother to form an aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60 carbonatoms or an aromatic heterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbonatoms; and the plural aromatic hydrocarbon groups or aromaticheterocyclic groups in A may be the same or different.]
 2. The organicthin film transistor according to claim 1, wherein the general formula(a) has a structure represented by the following general formula (b):

[wherein A₁ and A₂ each independently represents a divalent aromatichydrocarbon group having from 6 to 60 carbon atoms or a divalentaromatic heterocyclic group having from 1 to 60 carbon atoms; R₁ to R₁₀are each the same as in the general formula (a); n represents an integerof from 0 to 2; and A₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁ takes a symmetric structure.]
 3. Theorganic thin film transistor according to claim 2, wherein in thegeneral formula (b), n is an integer of from 1 to 2; and the cyclicstructure of the moiety connected by a single bond in A₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁ isa combination of a 5-membered ring and a 5-membered ring, or a5-membered ring and a 6-membered ring.
 4. The organic thin filmtransistor according to claim 2, wherein in the general formula (b), nis an integer of from 1 to 2; and A₁ and A₂ are a different group fromeach other.
 5. The organic thin film transistor according to claim 2,wherein in the general formula (b), n is 0; the cyclic structure of themoiety connected by a single bond in A₁-A₁ is a 5-membered ring; and A₁is an aromatic heterocyclic group formed through fusion of two or morerings.
 6. The organic thin film transistor according to claim 2, whereinin the general formula (b), at least one of A₁ and A₂ contains a benzenering.
 7. The organic thin film transistor according to claim 2, whereinin the general formula (b), at least one of A₁ and A₂ is a nitrogenatom-containing aromatic heterocyclic group.
 8. The organic thin filmtransistor according to claim 1, wherein the general formula (a) has astructure represented by the following general formula (c):

[wherein A₃ represents a trivalent aromatic heterocyclic group havingfrom 1 to 60 carbon atoms; R₁ to R₁₀ are each the same as in the generalformula (a); and A₃=A₃ takes a symmetric structure.]
 9. The organic thinfilm transistor according to claim 8, wherein in the general formula(c), the cyclic structure in the moiety connected by a double bond inA₃=A₃ is a 5-membered ring.
 10. The organic thin film transistoraccording to claim 1, wherein in the general formula (a), (b) or (c),the two olefin groups are substituted at a symmetric position relativeto A, A₁-(A₂)_(n)-A₁ or A₃=A₃.
 11. The organic thin film transistoraccording to claim 1, wherein in the general formula (a), (b) or (c),R₁, R₅, R₆ and R₁₀ are each independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorineatom.
 12. The organic thin film transistor according to claim 1, whereinin the general formula (a), (b) or (c), R₁ to R₁₀ are each independentlya hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. 13.The organic thin film transistor according to claim 1, wherein in thegeneral formula (a), (b) or (c), R₁ to R₁₀ are each independently ahydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a haloalkyl group havingfrom 1 to 30 carbon atoms.
 14. The organic thin film transistoraccording to claim 1, comprising a buffer layer between each of thesource electrode and the drain electrode and the organic semiconductorlayer.
 15. An organic thin film light emitting transistor, wherein inthe organic thin film transistor according to claim 1, light emission isobtained utilizing a current flowing between the source and the drain,and the light emission is controlled upon application of a voltage tothe gate electrode.
 16. The organic thin film light emitting transistoraccording to claim 15, wherein at least one of the source and the drainis composed of a material having a work function of eV or more, and/orat least one of them is composed of a material having a work function ofnot more than 4.3 eV.
 17. The organic thin film light emittingtransistor according to claim 15, comprising a buffer layer between eachof the source electrode and the drain electrode and the organicsemiconductor layer.